Location The Diocese of Pennsylvania
Email contact@agvc.org
Menu

Gun Safety 101

Safe Storage of Guns

Safe storage of guns is a top priority in gun violence prevention and can avert many gun tragedies, especially those involving children. As the blogspot Kid Shootings says: “Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult”. (1)

Consider these facts and implications for gun violence prevention:

  • 1 in 3 handguns in American homes is kept loaded and unlocked. (2) 
  • 76% of children ages 5-14 know where firearms are kept in the home.(3)
  • Almost 2 children a week are killed in unintentional shootings. Almost 2/3 of these shootings take place in a home or vehicle that belonged to the victim’s family. Another 19% take place in the home of a relative or friend of the family. (4)
  • 85% of youth under 18 who died by firearm suicide used a family member’s gun, usually that of a parent. (5)
  • 69% of youth school shooters acquire their gun from their home. (6)

How congregations can address safe storage:

Make materials about safe storage available. The Everytown for Gun Safety “BeSMART” Campaign provides information about conversations parents can have with other parents about accessibility to guns: You can download an information sheet, “Talking About Responsible Gun Storage” at www.beSMARTforKids.org

Promote the ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Campaign, which encourages parents to ask this question when they send a child to someone’s home: “Is there an unlocked gun in your home?” Educational brochures and a tool-kit with information and other resources are available in the resource section of the ASKing Saves Kids website http://askingsaveskids.org/

Observe National ASK Day annually in June. This is a key opportunity to raise awareness of the ASK Campaign in your congregation. Congregations can include ASK information in sermons, have a resource table near Sunday School classrooms, and ask parents to sign a pledge to “ask”. ASK Day materials and resources are available at ASKing Saves Kids: https://goo.gl/4RXDGc 

Encourage youth who babysit to ask if there is an unlocked gun in a home where they will be caring for children. Youth may use a check-list, where this question is included in with other safety questions. Here is a sample checklist that includes asking about gun storage: https://goo.gl/gk6xpB 

Educate your congregation about Pennsylvania’s safe storage laws and any local laws, if applicable. ln Pennsylvania, dealers must lock guns when traveling to gun shows or other retail sites. However, there are no laws around an owner’s safety and storage. https://goo.gl/SoGfmk 

Encourage members of your congregation to approach their local school board, superintendent, or individual principals, about issuing a letter urging all public schools to send a memo to their school community, informing them about the laws regarding safe storage of firearms. 

Raise safe storage in pastoral situations when you think someone may be at risk for gun violence.

Contact your local law enforcement office to learn the procedures for voluntarily surrendering a firearm.

Resources: